As we enter the second full month of the third national lockdown we take a look at some of the key dates that we expect announcements to be made by the government.
February 15th
This is the target date for all in the top four most vulnerable categories, as set by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), are to have been offered their first dose of vaccine – a total of around 15 million people.
This is also the date set by the Prime Minister of the review of the third lockdown.
In December, the government published a list of nine vulnerable groups who will be given priority, following the advice of the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation:
- Residents in a care home for older adults and their carers
- All those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers
- All those 75 years of age and over
- All those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals
- All those 65 years of age and over
- All individuals aged 16 to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality
- All those 60 years of age and over
- All those 55 years of age and over
- All those 50 years of age and over
February 22nd
This is the date it is expected Boris Johnson will release the government’s lockdown exit roadmap – it is expected to set out a crucial three month plan of reopening both schools and the economy.
This is also the date that schools are expected to be given two weeks notice of reopening.
March 8th
This is the earliest date schools are expected to return – Primary schools and those in secondaries that have exams this year are expected to be the first ones back in the classrooms.
March 15th
Once the schools have gone back and as long as there is no increase in the Covid-19 numbers, the rule of six, allowing you to meet up with five others, is expected to be reinstated from the middle of March.
It is also widely reported that some organised sports could also return.
March 31st
This is the date the current lockdown legislation for England ends.
If lockdown is to continue, MPs will be asked to vote again to approve any extension.
It is also expected by this date that the vaccinations will be offered to people in the category 9 – All those 50 years of age and over.
April 5th
This is the earliest non-essential retail is expected to be allowed to open. This is dependent on whether the UK government returns to a tiered lockdown system or treats the whole of England as one.
May 3rd
Bank Holiday Monday appears to be the date ‘leaked’ as the earliest reopening date for pubs and restaurants.
